Trendspotting: US States Warming up to Renewable Energy Heating and Cooling, Part 1

A quiet trend is emerging with two states leading the way. In recent months, both Maryland and New Hampshire have tipped the scales in favor of thermal renewables by passing or amending innovative, groundbreaking laws that will significantly drive up the use of thermal renewable energy in their states and beyond. A Brief Look at the Technologies Involved Renewable heating (and cooling) technology depends on the sun, the earth and sustainably harvested forests to fuel its systems. The sun provides heat for hot water in solar water heating (SWH) systems, which work through solar panels placed on a roof. The panels are filled with a glycol solution that circulates throughout the home or business to heat water, usually in a tank, providing heat and/or hot water for the facility. The system is generally closed loop so that once cooled, the solution returns to the roof to be reh...